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As the Cal Golden Bears play their inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, a key to their success will be the rushing attack, highlighted by Jaydn Ott who earned first-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors last year.
Ott's video game-like rushing highlights are reminiscent of the jaw-dropping video footage of legendary Golden Bears running back Marshawn Lynch decimating opposing defenders.
Beast Mode 1.0: Marshawn Lynch
Lynch played at Cal from 2004 through 2006. He received numerous accolades along the way and, in his final game for the Golden Bears, led the team to a 45-10 thumping of Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl. In his three-year collegiate career, Lynch was a prolific rusher, pass-catcher and kickoff returner. He ran for 3,260 yards with an average of 6.6 yards per carry and 29 touchdowns. He also had 6 receiving touchdowns. In 2006, Lynch was a first-team All-American and the Offensive Player of the Year in the Pac-10 Conference.
Lynch was the No. 12 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played his first three professional seasons for the Buffalo Bills and was traded to the Seattle Seahawks early in his fourth season. In his stellar NFL career, Lynch was a first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl champion.
Based on his bruising style of play—regularly running over and through defenders—Lynch was nicknamed "Beast Mode."
Lynch joins a handful of high-profile players, including Eli Manning, eligible for ballot consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Beast Mode 2.0: Jaydn Ott
Ott was rated the nation's No. 3 running back prospect in the 2022 recruiting cycle. In his first season, he was named to the Freshman All-American team. And, as noted above, he earned first-team All-Pac 12 honors last season. Happily for the Golden Bears, Ott returns for another season in Berkeley, Calif.
In his two seasons with the Golden Bears, Ott has rushed for 2,212 yards on 46 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He has scored 20 rushing touchdowns. Like Lynch, Ott is also a prolific pass-catcher and kickoff returner. He has 5 receiving touchdowns and returned 1 kickoff to the house.
Ott is prominently featured in the new EA Sports College Football 25 game. No wonder. His rushing prowess reminds onlookers of Lynch.
Ott is listed by On3 Sports as one of the top 100 players in college football for the 2024 season and is a preseason All-American.
His celebrity status is growing. On Apr. 26, he threw out the first pitch at the San Francisco Giant's baseball game.
Stay tuned to College Football Dawgs for continued reporting on the Cal Golden Bears and other exciting college football news.
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